IOGKF Newsletter

December 2012

Teach Methods & Traditions – An Interview with Higaonna Sensei

Goju Ryu and Uechi Ryu, according to some, were
originally inspired from the same Chinese Quan Fa, or even two
techniques from the same tradition.

Higaonna: Yes,
that’s possible.

In any case, of the two, Goju Ryu is in a
certain sense the more austere (Physical), and from a
theoretical point of view the one that seems simpler. Uechi Ryu
seems to preserve a deeper imprint of the original Quan Fa.

Higaonna:
Absolutely. In my opinion, Uechi Ryu follows Quan Fa as
it once was. There are forms of tigers and other animals, and
techniques such as Rakanken and Tsuruken.

True. There are animal forms like the tiger, the
dragon, the heron and others, that appear just as they are. You
can also find forms in Goju
Ryu and Shorin Ryu such as the heron and the
tiger, but they’re not as evident as in Uechi Ryu.

Higaonna: They
are hidden. As they say, they hide their claws. In ancient
times, techniques of this kind were passed on. These days,
however, the fervour to hide them has transformed the kata
(laughs regretfully). Just look at our training, for example
that of “mawashiuke”: at the beginning it is practiced
with wider movements. When we have learned it well, in real
combat it is used in the form of a tiger, rotating our hands in
a more reduced and incisive way. As a training method, we say
that it’s like sharpening a pencil. Initially we create the form
with wide strokes, and then curb the corners and refine the
details until we get a result that’s quite beautiful.

And the person who established that method of
teaching was...

Higaonna:
...Master Miyagi Chojun.

Goju Ryu was the first school to receive its
own denomination in Japan: apart from its name, the basis for
the teaching methods of modern Goju Ryu were also
laid down by Master Chojun, isn’t that right?

Higaonna:
Exactly. It was Master Chojun who established a teaching
tradition. First with the two “Gekisai ichi” and “ni”,
and then “Sanchin”. Before the war, All of the
masters only practiced Sanchin.

Then they trained with each other and they learned
many things. This is why differences were gradually created as
the teaching was transmittedfrom person to person.

Just like in the game Chinese Whispers! (laughs)

Higaonna:
That’s right. Just like in the game Chinese Whispers! (laughs)